This time, they did it. After two close calls in three years—two seasons when it seemed the Panthers should make it out of the divisional tournament but, somehow, agonizingly, didn’t—Jefferson High’s volleyball squad got the job done in 2021. It’s headed for State.
The Panthers opened last weekend’s Southern B Division tournament with a tough match against Joliet, a team that has been very strong for quite a few years. Dakota Edmisten started the scoring with a hard kill, then added two more kills for a 4-3 edge. Rachel Van Blaricom powered over a kill to make it 6-4, and an ace by Emma McCauley made it 9-6. Blocks by Sophie Livesay and Baylee Toney made it 23-17, and the Panthers went on to win 25-20.
Joliet proved it belonged in the second set. Down 22-17, Joliet outscored the Panthers 9 to 2 in the final stretch to take the set 26-24. The third was tight all the way, with five ties in the early going. Joliet took a 14-11 lead before the Panthers settled into a flow. Toney’s ace brought Jefferson within one, an ace by Edmisten put the Panthers up 17-15, and Jefferson went on to win the set 25-21.
